The Other Girl (#Wattys2016)

Chapter Four

Right after lunch, I hurried to Dad’s office and didn’t dare knock on his door. I just burst inside and yelled his name very loud that the mug he was holding fell on the floor because I startled him.

“Shoot,” I exclaimed as I hurried to Dad’s. “I am so sorry, Dad. I didn’t mean too.”

He chuckled and swats my arms away when I tried to wipe the coffee off his shirt with my hands. “It’s alright, kiddo. Don’t bother. Your hands will not be much help anyways.” I blushed at his comment. Sometimes, I really am stupid.

“Sorry,” I mumbled, my eyes focused on the ground.

“It’s okay,” I heard him say. “Now why don’t we take a seat and talk about the reason why you burst in my office looking oh so excited, eh?” He smiled. He placed his arm around my shoulder and led me to the chair in front of his desk and told me to sit. Dad is a much respected person here in Colorado as he is one of the best lawyers in town. Well, not just in town. He’s very well known to other nearby towns too.

A lot of people say that he and I look very much alike. Except for the eyes and my sex (obviously) then everything you see in me came from Dad; the brown hair, the pointy nose and the pouty lips. They all came from Dad’s.

When Dad and I settled on the chairs in front of his desk, Dad looked at me with questioning gaze. He’s probably wondering why I’m acting all excited and I really can’t blame him. I’m not this kind of girl before. I used to be the quiet girl who spends time in my room or in the backyard with earphones plugged in her ears and a book in hand. I only go out when I was asked to go run some errands, walk Hatchi or go to school. Other than that, my life belongs to my room.

But since I woke up three days ago and found out that we have a new neighbor, well a lot of things changed.  Except for the waking up late. I think that will never change even if I’ll be sleeping right next to Julius. Whoa. Where the hell did that came from? Oh right, my perverted brain. Oh well. Anyways, yeah. Dad is probably wondering why I’m acting like this all of a sudden. But maybe, if I ask the thing that I want to ask him right now, then he’ll figure it out, right?

It’s okay if he finds out about my little crush. It’s just a crush. As long as he’ll shut his mouth and not tell Kiefer about it then it’s all good. So, maybe I should tell him now. I mean, he’s looking at me waiting for me to speak. So, why the hell am I looking back at him and not trying to speak. What’s wrong with my lips? Why won’t it move?

“Isabella if you’re going to have a staring contest with me then I probably should suggest for us to do this some other time because I am really busy right now and—”

“No!” I cut him off. He looked at me with his brow raised and I blushed. “I uhh… I’m sorry. I was just…” I trailed off because of the look I am receiving from him. “Don’t look at me like that, Dad!” I told him and bent my head down.

He chuckled. “What do you mean? I am looking at you the way I always do, kid.”

“Oh please… stop this bull.”

Now his chuckles turned to laughs. “It’s not my fault that all of a sudden you can’t help the blush showing off your face.”

“DAD!”

“Alright. I’ll stop.” He composed himself after a few moments then asked me, “So what’s up?”

I chose my words very, very carefully so that he won’t be suspicious. “Well you know that I’m supposed to enroll tomorrow for school, right?”

“Hmm-mm,” he nodded his head.

“Well, the plan was for Mom and I to go there together since Kiefer is being… well, Kiefer. But uhh… Julius and I kind of talked a while ago,” I stopped to meet his eyes, and a knowing look flashed from his face. But he didn’t say anything; he just tilted his head and gestured for me to continue. “So yeah. We talked. And he said he’ll be enrolling too tomorrow so uh… he um…” Again I trailed off and failed to look at my father’s eyes.